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EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 1:50 am
by dcrossman
Tried all day today to get epg123 working and finally gave up. Thankfully, I had done a system backup last night and had a restore point. The rovi epg also finally came back to life all on its own.

Trace.log's final few lines are:
[2/6/2017 13:24:11] ====================== Beginning epg123 client execution. =====================
[2/6/2017 13:24:11] [ INFO] Import=True , Match=True , NoLogo=False
[2/6/2017 13:24:11] [ INFO] import filename = epg123.mxf
[2/6/2017 13:25:19] [ERROR] Error: The following error was encountered while processing the file. Aborting.
[2/6/2017 13:25:19] [ERROR] Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
[2/6/2017 13:25:20] [ERROR] Error using loadmxf.exe to import new guide information. Exit code: -1
[2/6/2017 13:25:20] [ERROR] Failed to import .mxf file. Exiting.
[2/6/2017 13:25:20] [STATS] epg123 update execution time was 00:02:21.4510566.

Running up-to-date Windows 7 SP 1. There were no errors in trace.log before the above lines.

Should I cancel my new account at Schedules Direct?

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:47 am
by garyan2
How big is the MXF file generated? ... and did you do Step 2 TV Setup?

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:29 am
by Windom
I may have been having the same problem when I switched over the other day. It could be the same thing...not sure.

I think my problem was that I didn't finish TV setup after not accepting the guide from MS. Even running the TV setup again after that, I was getting the same errors logged whenever I tried to get the EPG123 guide into MC.

Anyway, I started the process over (cleared the MC data out) and completed the TV setup the first time running MC. After that, those errors went away and I got my guide data.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:56 am
by garyan2
^ definitely one way to make the error occur. I experienced that quite a bit when I was trying to find quicker ways to get everything up and running by running epg123 prior to WMC setup. Needless to say it was a complete disaster and the only way to recovery was to Step 1 again and delete everything.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:17 pm
by dcrossman
The mxf file is 74,365 KB. If memory serves (I tried so many things yesterday), after performing Step 1, WMC said there was no tuner connected, which freaked me out just a bit. My tuner is a Hauppauge WinTV-DCR-2650 cablecard model. That was when I used my Restore point the first time, which is probably what led everything downhill after that.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:37 pm
by DaveInPa
dcrossman wrote:The mxf file is 74,365 KB. If memory serves (I tried so many things yesterday), after performing Step 1, WMC said there was no tuner connected, which freaked me out just a bit. My tuner is a Hauppauge WinTV-DCR-2650 cablecard model. That was when I used my Restore point the first time, which is probably what led everything downhill after that.
I use the Hauppauge 2650. When setting things up, it will sometimes "lose" the tuners. I've gotten them back by rebooting (sometimes a few times) or by uplugging and replugging them.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 7:04 pm
by dcrossman
Thanks for reminding me of that. I'll keep it in mind next time.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:47 am
by canyouhelp
Hi
I have the same errrors as the original poster. I have run Step 1: Clean Start in the Client Guide Tool (I have to do it in Safe Mode) but this has not made a differnce. Each time I get the error.
Can you think of a way to help me progress this?
Thanks

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:15 am
by garyan2
canyouhelp wrote:Hi
I have the same errrors as the original poster. I have run Step 1: Clean Start in the Client Guide Tool (I have to do it in Safe Mode) but this has not made a differnce. Each time I get the error.
Can you think of a way to help me progress this?
Thanks
All right, I'll try to go thru all the steps and what you should see to indicate progress.

1. Clean Start.
  • C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ehome folder is deleted, but probably will still exist with very small mcepgX-Y.db file.
2. TV Setup
  • Deny Program Guide ToS
  • Ensure Tuner Scan completes for 9999 cable/satellite channels and/or all OTA channels
  • Exit WMC
3. Configure EPG123
  • Ensure stations are checked
  • Ensure lineup in included (green light on tab)
  • Save & Execute
  • epg123.mxf file should be present and much greater than 1MB
4. Checks - Open epg123Client.exe
  • Left side populated with scanned tuner channels from step 2
  • Text beside Registry button is "Configured"
  • Manual import epg123.mxf file if necessary
  • epg123 lineup available in right side
If you're having problems with the import than that would happen end of step 3 or for the manual import. Needless to say, that shouldn't happen if everything done in sequence above. If so, let use know.

Re: EPG123 Object reference not set to an instance of an obj

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 12:01 am
by canyouhelp
Hi Gary

Thank you for your fast support. I have finally had a chance to look again and can report success - thank you.
The problem for me was that 3. Save & Execute was erroring as I explained. I was running a utility called MCE Standby Tool. When I stopped this application from running at startup, I found that the Save & Execute worked fine.

Thanks again.